Hello all!

So as far as I understand, we don't have story mode EC and HM/NiM EV/KP/EC part of the group finder due to it being in a higher tier of operations. Are there any plans on implementing these into the group finder? I for one have quite a bit of trouble finding groups for these, as well as a whole lot of other people which just causes a whole lot of spam on the fleet.

I understand that if all level 50s would be able to q for these ops, then there would surely be chaos, starting from fresh level 50s joining, people not with zero knowledge of the fights, etc. How about simply making these operations 'unlockable'?

For example: a person finds a group for, story mode denova lets say, and then successfully completes the operation, therefor he/she unlocks the ability to queue for story mode denova. This way it's not just a whole bunch of inexperienced, under geared people that will be q'ing for a higher tier operation where they could ruin it for everyone else. Or perhaps you have to beat it 3 times to unlock it just to make sure everyone really knows what they're doing.

Not too complicated and straightforward, earn your right to queue for a higher tier operation. Usually I spend half my time unfortunately in this game searching for a group for these operations, so something like this would save a whole lot of time for everyone.

Whatcha guys think?

I like the idea, having to finish the operation before you can actually queue for it.

The only question is whether or not enough players will be queuing for you to find a group!

Yes, looks to be a very good idea.

You can even make a number of Story EV/KP finishes (let's say 5) unlock HM version without needing to run it first.

Although with EC it obviously won't work. Probably need about 3 successful finishes to simply unlock SM, because it's much more mechanics-heavy...

This is a good idea. Even though you might get the person who was carried through their "unlock", it would still be preferable to someone who had never run the fights at all.

I vote yes.

Yes, looks to be a very good idea.

 

You can even make a number of Story EV/KP finishes (let's say 5) unlock HM version without needing to run it first.

 

Although with EC it obviously won't work. Probably need about 3 successful finishes to simply unlock SM, because it's much more mechanics-heavy...

According to Dev notes it looks like a lot of the mechanics of EC SM are going to be removed or lessened come 1.4. I wouldn't be shocked to see it added to group finder shortly after that.

I'm lukewarm to this idea. I see the point of only wanting experienced people who know the fights. But everyone has to learn at some point too. I have been a 50 for some time and only have played KP maybe 3 times and EV once. It's not that I haven't wanted to, I just am not part of an active guild that raids a lot. The problem I find is always the leaders forming ops via messaging in general chat only want geared people (full or partial Rakata) who know the fights. But you can't get geared with Rakata if you haven't been in the ops before- kind of a chicken-egg problem. I find the group finder rarely pops for a full group in SM KP or EV, (at least for DPS) thus my limited experience.

I have been playing HM flashpoints a lot but am not getting past Columi gear...I think I need operations for that. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Anyway, my opinion is that limiting HM ops in the group finder to those who've completed it X number of times in SM just means there will be fewer and fewer people playing HM as time goes on- given that even experienced players do get tired of the game and move on.

I'm lukewarm to this idea. I see the point of only wanting experienced people who know the fights. But everyone has to learn at some point too. I have been a 50 for some time and only have played KP maybe 3 times and EV once. It's not that I haven't wanted to, I just am not part of an active guild that raids a lot. The problem I find is always the leaders forming ops via messaging in general chat only want geared people (full or partial Rakata) who know the fights. But you can't get geared with Rakata if you haven't been in the ops before- kind of a chicken-egg problem. I find the group finder rarely pops for a full group in SM KP or EV, (at least for DPS) thus my limited experience.

 

I have been playing HM flashpoints a lot but am not getting past Columi gear...I think I need operations for that. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

Anyway, my opinion is that limiting HM ops in the group finder to those who've completed it X number of times in SM just means there will be fewer and fewer people playing HM as time goes on- given that even experienced players do get tired of the game and move on.

I totally agree 9/10 when people say they are looking for a dps, heals, or tank they usually have this posted after it " Must be geared know the fights". How is it that in order for me to do an op like EC I must have the gear it drops and must know the fights. I don't get people's tolerance level for "first timers" so to say is way too low.

I totally agree 9/10 when people say they are looking for a dps, heals, or tank they usually have this posted after it " Must be geared know the fights". How is it that in order for me to do an op like EC I must have the gear it drops and must know the fights. I don't get people's tolerance level for "first timers" so to say is way too low.

Gear is not an excuse anymore. The ability to farm BH comms at will, the ease to get Columi, dailys etc etc etc and add into this the fact that some pvp pieces (relics mostly) are BiS and you have an almost uncomparable ease of gearing.

Asto new players getting into raid content, well isn't that what guilds and friends are for? I am assuming this is a MMo right?

Honestly this whole groupfinder idea is a cancer on MMO's.Yes it's great for convienience but thats about it really.

That being said, I really don't give a damn whether or not SM EC makes it onto the GF list. I won't be running it , at all. I have 4 toons geared to a rakata + standard which is mroe than good enough to run TFB HM and SM.

Gear is not an excuse anymore. The ability to farm BH comms at will, the ease to get Columi, dailys etc etc etc and add into this the fact that some pvp pieces (relics mostly) are BiS and you have an almost uncomparable ease of gearing.

 

Asto new players getting into raid content, well isn't that what guilds and friends are for? I am assuming this is a MMo right?

 

Honestly this whole groupfinder idea is a cancer on MMO's.Yes it's great for convienience but thats about it really.

 

That being said, I really don't give a damn whether or not SM EC makes it onto the GF list. I won't be running it , at all. I have 4 toons geared to a rakata + standard which is mroe than good enough to run TFB HM and SM.

Whoa! Whoa! Calm down there tiger. See now this is the tolerance level I was talking about.

Whoa! Whoa! Calm down there tiger. See now this is the tolerance level I was talking about.

I'm sorry, where do I come across as being aggravated?

You complain about how hard it is to gear, I point out your error.

You complain about people having unreal expectations, I give you a solution.

I then state my personal views on the matter, wheres the anger or need to be calmed?

How is it that in order for me to do an op like EC I must have the gear it drops and must know the fights.

"Knowing the fights" is a bit different than "has experienced the content enough that you can do it in your sleep". There are *plenty* of guides, strats, and videos on the internet that can teach you the fights without forcing 7 other people to make up for you not having a clue what's going on. The content has been out long enough that most people simply have no patience or willingness to explain fights to random people any more. It's the same reason why most people just run through HM FPs without explaining them to new people.

Also, concerning gear, SM EC drops Rakata gear and requires Columi gear. You can get both of those from running KP and EV (HM and SM), so it's not like you can't "be geared" at or above the intended level of gear for running that content without running that content in the first place. Even if you don't get the Black Hole gear to prepare yourself for SM EC, you'll still get all you need just running HM FP and SM KP/EV. I don't think I've ever seen a pug group deny someone that was in reasonably appropriate gear (Columi for SM EC or HM KP/EV). Generally, the "geared" requirement is intended to weed out fresh 50s that want to run EC while in Recruit gear or leveling blues.

My opinion on that matter is - If You want to raid find Yourself a raiding guild... There are tenths of recruitment messages spamming general all day everyday.

Adding hard modes to group finder is really tragic idea... Seriously most of PUGs arent even capable of doing KP SM since the idea of 3-element Tower of Hanoi puzzle is to much for them to understand (or even something even more complex, story from 2 days ago - Denova SM PUG - one dude that claimed to do that instance before died 5 times in a row due to the fact he failed to manage a mechanic to stand as close to railshot droid as possible....). People come to raids without any knowledge of the instance (which isn't really that bad as far as they are capable of not standing in red circles and following the whole group if it moves to different spot... but seriously many fail even with such a complex task), and for the worst part they don't know how to play their class. And to do HMs You kinda want to know Your class... because it is around that level where DPSers doing as much DPS as tank are kinda not enough.

So I'm totally against it... Denova SM - sure, but after a kind of nerf i think, since it is a bit more demanding and unforgiving than other SMs, but HMs - no way. So if You want to play casually and for fun You have GF for 2 SMs even can go to Denova PUG since there are tons of those running, but if You think about gearing and raiding HMs and stuff like that - get Yourself more or less casual raiding guild and stop whining. It is MMO - start socialise with other ppl.

My opinion on that matter is - If You want to raid find Yourself a raiding guild... There are tenths of recruitment messages spamming general all day everyday.

 

Adding hard modes to group finder is really tragic idea... Seriously most of PUGs arent even capable of doing KP SM since the idea of 3-element Tower of Hanoi puzzle is to much for them to understand (or even something even more complex, story from 2 days ago - Denova SM PUG - one dude that claimed to do that instance before died 5 times in a row due to the fact he failed to manage a mechanic to stand as close to railshot droid as possible....). People come to raids without any knowledge of the instance (which isn't really that bad as far as they are capable of not standing in red circles and following the whole group if it moves to different spot... but seriously many fail even with such a complex task), and for the worst part they don't know how to play their class. And to do HMs You kinda want to know Your class... because it is around that level where DPSers doing as much DPS as tank are kinda not enough.

 

So I'm totally against it... Denova SM - sure, but after a kind of nerf i think, since it is a bit more demanding and unforgiving than other SMs, but HMs - no way. So if You want to play casually and for fun You have GF for 2 SMs even can go to Denova PUG since there are tons of those running, but if You think about gearing and raiding HMs and stuff like that - get Yourself more or less casual raiding guild and stop whining. It is MMO - start socialise with other ppl.

Seriously? And having hard mode ops in group finder is going to affect you how?

I put this in the suggestion box a little while back. So yes I agree

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=524802

Dont like it = dont use it. Also if you do have multiple chars and your run whatever raids everyweek on your main = great. Then you want to run on your alts = likely you need a pug. Very rarely other than a guild drafting the odd one in for ECHM do I see anyone asking for gear and tacs.